Opposed to the principles of the Law on the secularism of the State, Québec solidaire (QS) has not, however, decided what it would do with the controversial text if it were elected to the government. After rejecting proposals to clarify this position, Sunday, the party finds itself without a clear plan immediately.
This weekend, activists proposed to the political party to lay the foundations for a potential modification to “law 21”. In two proposals tabled during the day, Sunday, they called on QS to reopen the legislative text to remove the exemption provisions and articles on the wearing of religious symbols.
After a long debate, these amendments were rejected by majority. “The members of Quebec solidaire told us that they do not want secularism to be one of the pillars of our electoral campaign” in 2022, supported the co-spokesperson for the training Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois at a point Press.
Historically, QS has always positioned itself in favor of secularism. However, last year, during a national council, the members decided to take a stand against any ban on the wearing of religious symbols. The party then broke with a tradition of supporting the Bouchard-Taylor compromise.
Law 21 of the Coalition Avenir Québec, which obliges public servants to withdraw their signs in the exercise of their function, is therefore at odds with the official position of Québec solidaire.
Position to come
But Sunday, despite several questions from journalists, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois could not say what a united government would do with the Law on the secularism of the state. “There will be a very, very clear position on this issue, but the members have decided not to tinker with this pending,” he said.
There is therefore nothing to say whether Québec solidaire intends to repeal the law as a whole, to allow its derogatory clauses to expire or to modify only certain articles. “Québec solidaire would put forward a new law to affirm its conception of secularism, which does not prevent people from going to teach in public schools, for example,” was content to say Mr. Nadeau- Dubois, without specifying what impact this would have on the current legislative framework.
Last April, QS co-spokesperson Manon Massé had said “when we are going to take power, there is no question of this law remaining”.
“We will continue our reflection and we will make proposals. There is no question that this law remains unchanged, ”indicated Mr. Nadeau-Dubois on Sunday. The party’s position will be clarified before the 2022 elections, he said.